약점

I have to confess I am no "expert" in Korean food. In the case of the famous Korean food "김떡순" (as in 김밥, 떡볶이 and 순대), I have never eaten the "순" despite my long stay in Korea. A colleague who was planning his upcoming Korean trip asked me for recommendation on good Korean food and I told him whatever and wherever you choose to eat, the food will likely taste good. It sounded like I was not very helpful but I really couldn't think of any special place or food in Korea that are exceptional. Every meal tasted quite alright then.

Ho Ddeok (호떡) is another food that I've never tried. It's not because one piece of this pancake contains calories equivalent to two cans of coke, I was just not curious about food in general. Maybe I should add I'm not adventurous with food.

What is Ho Ddeok? I think it should taste like "ham jin peng". That's my best effort, seriously.

I used to patronise a chicken steak house outside my campus frequently. There were only two dishes in its menu - chicken steak or spicy chicken, take it or leave it. It was hardly a dilemma, I could only eat chicken steak as its spicy chicken could set off the fire alarm. When it comes to food, I guess, less (choice) is better for me.

At 닭터 (Dr.), chicken steak or spicy chicken? 늘 chicken steak!

싱그리스의 힘

I have kept this posting in draft mode for donkey's years. Since this year "simi" (everything) also SG50, I think this posting on Singlish is appropriate to be the first post of 2015.

Let's start by explaining the meaning of the Korean slang 쩐다 or 쩔다 in English.

According to Daum dictionary, the long-winded explanation:

"감탄사로 좋은 상황, 나쁜 상황 가리지 않고 쓰며 상대방에게 적극 동의를 표하거나 놀라움을 표현할때 쓰는 말"

In short, the word can mean both “awesome” and “awful”. This slang which originated from Incheon can have direct opposite meaning depending on the situation, the tone and the body language of the speaker. This is how far I will explain the word in English as it's probably getting confusing by now. However if you know Singlish, you will know how to use it in no time. Look at the examples below and figure its meaning. Singlish explanation in bracket:


Situation: Friend late for appointment:
Expression: 와.. 너 진짜 쩔어 (Wah, you really (too much) ah)

Situation: Met a very helpful man
Expression: 와.. 저남자 쩐다 (Wah, that guy really (nice) ah)

Situation: Met a unreasonable and rude person
Expression: "아... 쩐다 진짜 (Ah, really really (like sh*t))

Situation: Had a very fun and wonderful time yesterday
Expression: 야, 우리 어제 정말 쩔지 않았냐? (Eh, yesterday really really (fun) hor?)


More Singlish expressions below. Like I used to say, it is easier to master Korean using Singlish:

bo kor leng (That's impossible)
설마

cheem ah (I have problem understanding you)
이해 못 해

don't know why ah ...
왠지...

liddat also can? (How is that possible?)
이럴 수 가?

like that lor (not really good, don't really like it)
별로야

mai blur leh (collect your mind)
정신차려

song bo? (do you enjoy it?)
좋아?

song song gao jurong (very good, very enjoyable)
되게 좋아, 끝내줘

up the lorry (die/breakdown)
죽었어 (인간) / 고장났어 (기계)

giam (stingy, can also means salty)
짜다

싱그리스 마을으로 환영합니다